Monterey females sell to $7500 top

Murray Grey females were the star attraction at Monterey's mature female dispersal sale last week on property at Karridale.

Stud principals Gary and Julie Buller offered a range of their cattle, through conducting agents Landmark and Elders, due to the expiration of leased property.

Mr Buller said it was a rare opportunity to select from Murray Grey females with known and proven breeding history.

"With some reluctance, we offer an ideal opportunity for breeders to establish new female lines in their herds," he said.

The quality cattle attracted nearly 50 registered buyers, with several studs in on the bidding action.

Repeat buyer Dean Rasmussen, of Shell-Dee stud in Kingaroy, Queensland, successfully bid via phone hook-up on the $7500 top-priced Monterey Lolita A250.

The sale catalogue described the rising nine-year-old mated cow as being a sensational female - "big and structurally as near to perfect as they come".

Mr Rasmussen, who has been sourcing Monterey genetics for 10 years, said Murray Greys performed well in harsh country.

"We also cross them with our Brahmans, which produces excellent F1 females," he said.

Elders agent Cameron Harris was kept busy bidding on behalf of Shell-Dee, securing another four lots, including the $7250 second top price on another mature cow.

Bidding competition was fierce on several lots, with WA studs keen to share of Monterey genetics.

Cliff Weichell, of Greycliff stud in Banjup, paid $6250 for Monterey Mannequin Y122, a rising 11-year-old mature cow.

Mr Weichell also secured a Showgirl mature cow for $5500 and another Mannequin for $2000.

After a brief introduction to Monterey genetics in recent times, Craig Grant, of Lindsay stud in Coleraine, Victoria, was active on many top cows and calves.

On two occasions, Mr Grant bought mature cows at $6000 and $5000 and also paid $4000 and $2500, respectively, for those cows' heifer calves at foot in separate sales.

Mr Grant paid $5000 for another mature mated cow and also $3250 and $2500 for two heifer calves.

"We bought Lindsay stud (established in the 1970s on Willalooka bloodlines) 10 years ago and we were selecting for elite females from our first purchase of Monterey cows and calves," he said.

Hampden Farm, of Donnybrook, was volume buyer, securing a cow/calf unit for $5500 as well as six mated mature cows for an average price of $3083. Farm manager Mick Gray also bought four heifer calves for an average of $2250 and two bull calves for $2000 and $1500.

"The Hampden Murray Grey stud was established early last year and we are building cow numbers to breed replacement bulls and females into a 360-head commercial cow herd," Mr Gray said.

Account SK & K Johns paid $4750 for a cow/calf unit and $3250 for a mated mature cow.

Other WA studs active at the sale included Katanning stud Southend, which bought mature cows for $3500 and $2000.

Mt Barker Senior High School's stud, Barker High, purchased four mature cows for an average price of $2625.

Jomel Glen stud bought mature cows for $3000 and $2000.

Crystal Bell, of Prairie Falls stud in Flinders, Victoria, bought two cows for $3000 and $2750, and one heifer calf for $2500.

The 19-year-old, who established her stud in April last year, said she had already been acclaimed in the show ring with Monterey genetics.

Elders auctioneer Alex Williams said the sale was well supported.

"The quality line of females and yearling bulls brought increased competition from the Eastern States," he said.

Monterey mature Murray Grey female sale *

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ * *Offered * *Sold * *Top price * *Average * *Mated cows * 54 40 $7500 $3094 *NIC cows * 4 1 $2000 $2000 *Mated cow/calf * 9 7 $5500 $3000 *NIC cow/calf * 6 5 $4750 $2800 *Heifer calves * 16 13 $4000 $2154 *Bull calves * 21 8 $3000 $1750 *Commercial heifers * 27 14 $1600 $1343